Canadian kick-boxer loses belt in Bayelsa

Amidst the hardship and anxieties in Bayelsa State, residents recently smiled broadly and laughed hysterically, temporarily forgetting their economic challenges. A live sporting show organised by the Renew Entertainment in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State restored happiness to their faces.

The owner of Renew, an engineer, Mr. Gospel Oboro, for the second time in a year brought a live kick-boxing competition to Yenagoa to thrill his audience and promote sports tourism in the state.

Oboro brought a world kick-boxing champion from Canada, Mr. Anthony Ford, to compete with an African champion, Mr. Menia Nimi Jack. All roads led to Renew, a firm that combines bar, club and sports entertainment. The arena located at Azikoro Road became a destination of choice for residents.

Dignitaries also attended the event. The Director-General, Tourism Development Agency (TDA), Mrs. Ebiere Irene, represented the government. The Deputy Governor’s Protocol Officer, Mr. Solomon Diepreye, was also in attendance.

Among them are traditional rulers such as the Paramount Ruler of Opokuma Kingdom, HRH, Okpoitari Diangoli and Paramount Ruler, Ekpetiama Kingdom, HRM, Bubaraye Dakolo. The rubber dub master, Raskimono and another entertainer Stone Cold thrilled the audience.

When the fight started, Prince Leo of the Nigerian Police defeated another fighter identified simply as Isidore from Cameroon. But the main fight between Ford and Jack was the motivation that lured the mammoth crowd to Renew.

After a long period of contest, Ford conceded defeat following many bruises inflicting on him by Jack, who was declared the winner. Ford’s belt was subsequently handed over to Jack.

Oboro said Renew had an intention to bring back live show business of sports to the Niger Delta region. He said the firm made history by going international to bring a world-title champion to Nigeria.

“I want our people to enjoy what other people are enjoying. We decided to bring back live show business of sport to the Niger Delta. We bring new innovation and now we have gone international, which is first in history in Nigeria to bring the world title champion to Nigeria.

“It is not easy. For more than three months, I have been doing alot of planning, talking to international communities. I would say that l am among the people that have entered the Guinness Book of Records as the only first person to bring the world title fight to Nigeria and mostly the Niger Delta”.

Ebiere thanked Oboro for raising the stakes of kickboxing in the country. Addressing Oboro, he said: “Many people dreamed but never achieved it. Some persons came across obstacles and they turned back, but you persisted.

“We went to the governor and he promised that this time next year, we will have much bigger kickboxing so that Bayelsa will become known for kickboxing in Nigeria and African as a whole.

“We promise you that by this time next year, we are going to have it bigger and better and government is ready to back us up and we promise we are going to create an auditorium for both kickboxing and boxing.”

Also speaking, Dakolo said the event was brought to the attention of the traditional rulers’ council at short notice. But he described the event as groundbreaking and asked the firm to engage in more publicity.

He said such events would bring the youths to productive existence and rebrand the Niger Delta region. He expressed gratitude to the governor for his promise to elevate kickboxing and other combat sports in the state.